Buyers Guide

Exciting times, buying a property. There’s a lot to think about though.

Feel free to come into the office anytime for a drink and a face-to-face chat with an expert, however if you don’t have a lot of time here’s a quick summary of useful tips and reminders for you buyers.

Finances in order?

Before you do anything else, we say do your research and find how much you can actually afford to spend on a property. Take into account any available cash you have for a deposit and then speak to our mortgage advisor Paul Millar or alternatively email him for more information on paul@millarmortgages.co.uk.

Our In-house mortgage adviser Paul can examine a comprehensive range of mortgages from a panel of over 50 lenders on your behalf and advise you on the most suitable options for your individual circumstance. We take the confusion out of mortgages and present the options clearly and simply, allowing you to make sense of the products available.

Looking at properties

So, you’ve scoured the estate agents’ websites and windows, poured over the property portals and pounded the streets figuring out where you might like to buy. Time to book in some viewings.

When looking around a property, use the estate agent and ask questions. You might want to think about things like:

The number of years left on any lease (if it’s a leasehold property)

Does the property have things like gas central heating, modern insulation and double glazing? If not, these are big ticket items to get fitted

The council tax band the property falls in

Any service charge

Local transport links

Outdoor space

If you like a property, be sure to get in a couple of viewings at different times of the day and invite friends and family along for a second opinion.

Making an offer

You’ve found a property you’re sure you want to buy. Call the estate agent and let them know how much you’re willing to offer. Don’t be surprised if your first offer is declined – that’s the name of the game and buying a property is all about negotiation.

If there are a number of people keen to buy the property, you might be invited to take part in a sealed bid.

Fingers crossed.

Everything in order?

When your offer is accepted, you’ll need to employ a conveyancer. This legal specialist will manage any negotiations to do with the purchase of the property on your behalf. They’ll check all the paperwork is in order and look after the details of the contract for you. We can help you find a local solicitor if needed.